Ionbond on barrels

[ericskennard]

Have any of you tried Ionbond or Black Melonite on stainless target rifle barrels? How did it work out?

Did you coat only the outside or inside too?

ERIC

 

[Steve Blair]

I had two barrels processed by MMI Trutec. Salt bath nitriding produces both a surface and a diffusion layer. The entire barrel, inside and out, is processed.

The Brux .284 barrel was processed new, so I have no accuracy comparison for this tube. It was chambered with a new .284 Win .313 neck X .220 throat PT&G reamer in Jim Borden's shop. The bore, throat and chamber finish was so good that I decided not to fire it before processing. As a processed barrel, it shoots Berger 180 VLDs .75-1.2" at 300 yards from a Borden/Eliseo RTM. That is the longest range fired to date. After 349 rounds fired, there is slightly more luster in the throat and on the lands throughout the bore.

The .22-250 barrel is unfired.

 

[Bob3700]

In our shooting group there are four bbls that were salt bath nitrided. A 6.5x284, some hot 6.5 and 7mm wildcats (F-Class stuff) and a 308.

So far, the 6.5 x 284 has seen the most use. No change to the excellent accuracy. Easy to clean. Right now, not enough rounds to make any life predictions.

Yes the bbls are black inside and out.

Bob

 

[ericskennard]

Bob where are they getting this done?

 

[Steve Blair]

Eric,
If you click the "MMI Trutec" link in my post, it will take you to their site. This is the same company featured in a Daily Bulletin.

 

[ericskennard]

thanks I will give them a call.

 

[butchlambert]

Remember Melonite QPQ is not a coating, it is a process that hardens the surface inside and out.
Butch

 

[Bob3700]

Butch is correct in that the salt bath nitriding is a surface hardening process.

Once you have the barrel treated, there is no setting it back. It is too hard to rechamber.

Also, you have to let them know if you want to be able to recrown the bbl and they will mask the muzzle off so that you can recut it.

Bob

 

[butchlambert]

bOB,
i RECROWNED MINE. iF YOU CAN GET BELOW THE CASE, YOU CAN CUT IT. i WOULD NOT TRY TO RECHAMBER ONE.
bUTCH

 

[ericskennard]

So is anyone seeing an increase in how many rounds one can get through the barrel before loosing accuracy?

 

[Steve Blair]

I have too few (349) rounds to say. Anecdotal reports talk about increased barrel life and easier cleaning.

 

[ericskennard]

Butch, several folks have told me you have worked with this process more than others. Does it increase barrel life? Do you recommend it?

 

[butchlambert]

I have had 3 done. The first was a Kreiger and it was a great barrel. I do have a good borescope. I normally get 800-1000 rounds out of a barrel. This one was still shooting well after 5000 rounds. I sent the barrel to a guy who posted on BR.Com. He claimed to teach gunsmithing. He told me it must have disappeared in the mail. I never saw it again. The HV barrel went with the rifle that I sold, so no history on it. The last one is and was a mediocre barrel. The process will definitly increase the usable life of a barrel, but won't make it a good one.
Butch

 

[blawton]

We are seeing close to 3 times the normal barrel life out of this process. Higher Muzzle velocity and amazing easy to clean. I have seen no accuracy degradation at all and even some increased accuracy. If you want to know some more facts i am more the happy to talk to you about it. 406 660 0688.


bobby

 

[Scott Harris]

One of the rifles John Whidden used to win the LR competition at Perry last week was a 243W ion-bonded. He says it didn't make the barrel more or less accurate, but it cleans up faster and he is still counting rounds to see if it lasts longer.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Butch, what calibers are the barrels that you had QPQ'd?

 

[butchlambert]

30BR and 6PPC.
Butch